Money IQ
What the Heck is a Melt Up?
The new normal in our industry is media outlets and analysts alike coming up with the latest and greatest “term” that we should all be focusing on and worrying about. Lately, I have seen the term “melt up” used quite a bit, and it is somewhat obviously an oxymoron. I might argue
Nathan GilbertOct 17, 2017A Seinfeld Rally?
Most of us remember the 90’s sitcom Seinfeld—as one of Nathan’s and Sarah Irving’s favorite shows, it is often quoted here at Meridian. As for me, I am still afraid of licking cheap envelopes. Seinfeld also indelibly marked things like the Soup Nazi, Fesitvus, and yada yada yada
Nathan GilbertOct 10, 2017
Happy T + 2 Day! (and Happy Birthday Molly!)
We celebrated our youngest daughter’s 3rd birthday over the weekend. It was a very nice gathering with friends and family. And the kids even went swimming which must have been pretty darn cold. Peppa Pig was the dominant theme, and Molly cutely identified each of the British-base
Nathan GilbertSep 5, 2017Milestones
Yesterday, my son Ethan celebrated his 9th birthday. He was super excited for his cake and his gifts—most of all his new skateboard. To Ethan, 9 is a pretty important year—it is the last year in the single digits. He says he feels like he is really growing up… There are some mile
Nathan GilbertAug 1, 2017School of Rock & Earnings Season
For most of us with kids, summer presents the challenge of keeping our children occupied (hopefully constructively!) until school starts again. Camps are certainly a popular option as they take up big chunks of the summer and allow kids to explore activities outside of a typical
Nathan GilbertJul 25, 2017ROI to ROL
The financial services industry loves acronyms—as an example, I am a CFP1 that works at an RIA2 which makes me an IAR3—yeesh! At Meridian we try to strip all of the jargon and opaque phrases from our conversations, as we want to help people truly understand their money and what i
Nathan GilbertJul 18, 2017Last Minute Tax Ideas
Procrastinators rejoice! Even though April 18—due date of taxes this year—is next week, it is not too late for a few smart moves to save on taxes for 2016. Make an IRA contribution. Contributions to an Individual Retirement Account (IRA) are deductible and can be made all the way
Nathan GilbertApr 11, 2017
How to Track and Plan Your Expenses
I’ve been having a lot of conversations recently about budgeting—not because our clients are awful at it, but because it is helpful to get a handle on how much things cost every month when we are working on planning. For those starting out, it is helpful to know how much those ne
Nathan GilbertMar 28, 2017Snow Day
We hope everyone is enjoying the snow—our kids are all delighted to have their first real snow of the season. Those who are shoveling (me and my husband) are not enjoying it as much. As with every winter storm, it has been funny to hear the hysteria in the forecasts—originally, t
Nathan GilbertMar 14, 2017When Should You Claim Social Security Benefits?
Of all the questions our clients face, this is certainly one of the most perplexing. Timing when to claim social security benefits has a significant and permanent impact on your retirement cash flow. In weighing your decision, consider your health outlook and longevity expectatio
Nathan GilbertJan 24, 2017Resolutions from the Uber-Wealthy
Ten days into the new year, and many of us are still trying to make time to put our grand resolutions for 2017 in place. Either many of us have resolved to eat better, exercise more, start a budget, be patient with our children…or some of us are still figuring out what our goals
Nathan GilbertJan 10, 2017Santa’s Last Stop
Every year, after Santa delivers presents to the good little boys and girls around the world, he swings by Wall Street and gives one last gift to investors. Typically, the stock market strongly rallies between December 25th and January 1st every year. PNC Financial Services’ chie
Nathan GilbertDec 27, 2016